Time to pack those bags for your epic summer vacay, or enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation by the beach or pool. You can’t do either without a great book by your side. We’ve rounded up some of the best summer reads to keep you turning pages for hours on end.
Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson
Escape to the fruit streets of Brooklyn Heights and immerse yourself in the lives of the ‘other half’. With a dash of generational wealth, a sprinkle of elitism and a whiff of Gossip Girl all grown up, Pineapple Street tells the story of Darley, Georgiana and Sasha; siblings as dysfunctional as they are wealthy. The perfect light read if you’re looking to escape and switch off from regular programming for a little.
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
Meet Clover, a New York City ‘Death Doula’. Helping those who are lonely, afraid and dying, Clover navigates the last affairs and secrets of those not long for this world, while hiding from her own painful memories. It’s here that Clover finally learns how to live again. Combining the awkward personality of Clover, a look at different rituals throughout the world and the discomfort so many of us feel around death, this is a book that will make you laugh and cry.
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
For the lover of the epic tale, let yourself be pulled into the world of the four Padavano sisters. Navigating love, loss, expectations and betrayal as the sisters grow into their adult lives and try to fit around each other. Dubbed ‘Like Little Women’ – but With Basketball’ by the New York Times, this is a poignantly beautiful story and the characters will stay with you long after the final chapter is closed.
Yellowface by R. F Kuang
If you’ve stepped foot inside a bookstore in 2023, you’re sure to have seen the canary yellow cover of R F Kuang’s yellow face staring at you from the best sellers wall. Have you ever had a friend who was just better at everything than you? That’s the predicament June finds herself in with her best friend, Athena. So when Athena suddenly and tragically dies, June makes a decision that will change her life – she steals Athena’s final manuscript and publishes it under her own name. This novel offers insight into the cutthroat literary world, the racism still faced by Asian American authors and the moral boundaries June steps over, and the ensuing torture she experiences. Widely touted as the best book of 2023, we recommend ending your year on a great read with Yellowface.
Good Material by Dolly Alderton
From the best-selling author of Everything I Know About Love and Ghosts, Dolly brings us Good Material, a story of breaking up and moving on, from the point of view of Andy as he struggles to come to terms with losing the only woman he’s ever loved. Told with Dolly’s signature insights into the human psyche, Good Material is the book all your friends will be debriefing this summer.
Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton
What’s in a name? Follow The Artist, a girl on the streets of Brisbane with no name, with a past she can’t stop running from. Lola in the Mirror is funny and violent, filled with death and beauty. If you’re familiar with Brisbane you’ll fall easily in love with Trant Dalton’s magical storytelling around iconic features of the river city. An enchanting tale with Trent’s signature lyrical writing, it’s sure to be a book club staple in 2024.
Everyone on This Train is a Suspect by Benjamin Stevenson
The second instalment from the writer that brought you Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone, Australian writer, Benjamin Stevenson takes us aboard The Ghan for a thrilling who dunnit with our beloved endearing and reliable narrator, Ernest. A nod to Agatha Christie and Conan Doyle, this locked room mystery is a fun way to pass a long hot summers day.
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth
Welcome to Wild Meadows, where there’s more than secrets buried. Join three woman as they look back on their past in the Victorian foster care system in the 1980’s at the hands of a woman who was calculating and cruel, now a body has been uncovered at their foster mothers home and the past uncovered with it. A twisty turny ready that will leave you guessing un ti8l the final pages. Sally Hepworth is the master of the epic holiday read and Darling Girls is no exception.
Long warm days call for losing your mind in a book you can’t put down. What are you packing in your beach bag?